Workholder



Jan. 17, 1933. H. FJSCHMIDT ET AL WORKHOLDER 2 Shgets-Sheet l Original Filed March 14, 1929 Jan. 17, 1933.

H. F. SCHMIDT ET AL WORKHOLDER Original Filed March 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 0/0 4 O M W 9 M w 1H a 0 a Z or F/ !I IIP M Z i MK I W/ M M 5 9 M O m a 4 1 w i M 8 0 n w l.\ ML W W/ 7 W Z M M A m: k... il. F/ 0M0 0 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 I UNITED STATES 1111130 I. SCHMIDT AND'LQUIS JUNG, or MILWAUKEEQWISCIONISIN WORK HOLDER Original application nlediuamii 14, 1929, Serial No. 346,841; Divided and this 2,1930. Serial No. 479,3 73.-

The present invention relates in "general to printing presses, as for example, offset proof presses and more particularly to sheet N gripping and registering devices for use in 5 such presses.

The present application is adivision of our pending application foru ofl'set proof press, filed March 14, 1929, Serial No. 346,841, 8

1 One of the principal objects of the present it invention resides in the embodiment in the structure of'the printingbed andbelow the printing plane of novel sheet gripping and clamping means and of novel registering devices which facilitate the quick and accurate T5 placement and securing of theprint receiving surface. The sheet gripping devices are easily and quicklyo-perated togrip or release the sheet with which they coact. By locat ing' these devices below the printing plane, no

' 2o obstructionlis offered to the cylinder during its travel over the bed.' V

Anothero-bject is to provide devices of this character which are of simple and durable construction, convenient,- safe and reli- 23 able in operation and easily manipulated in the operation of'the press Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement" and combination of parts which f will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifia a Cation, and in which: l

Figure l is a view in top plan showing the I printing bed of the pressembodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

i 4 Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the parts shown in F igure'2;

Figure 4 is a view in transverse vertical section taken online 44 ofFigure with parts shown in elevation for the sake ofsimplicity and illustration; I y Fig'ure 5 is a detail view of one of the registering devices and, illustrating the same partly in side elevation and partly in section in the plane of line 55 of Figure3;

gauges or registering devices;

applicationmed September;

"Figure 6 is asectional View taken on line 6'6 of Figure 5'; Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailviewintop plan showing one of the laterally adjustable 55. Figure-8 is a detailed sectional view takenon line 88 of Figure 7'; and J Figure 9'is afragmentary perspective viewof certain of the elements shown inFigures 7jand 8. f

Referring to the drawings,,thenumeral 5 designates the side frames ofthe presswhich are rigidly held in proper spaced relation by cross members 7, 8 and 9, extending between and secured thereto, the cross members" 7 and'9 being arranged at the ends of theside frames and a cross member 8 being'arranged at the center thereof. r 1

Bed plates 11' and 12 are positioned' between the side frames 5 and are supported upon the cross members'l', 8 and 9, the plate 11 providing a support for the printing plate or dprinting surface and the bed plate 12'provi ing a support for the sheet or print re ceiving surface on which the proof is made; The bed plates 11 and 12 are of identical construction and are'interchangeable. As shown in Figure 1, the bed plates 11 and 12 are formed with laterally directed guide lugs 13 engageable with the guide surface 5 formed on the side frames 5 whereby the side bed plates are held against any lateral movement although free to be adjusted vertically. The I bed plates 11 and 12 are vertically adjusted and supported in any adjusted position by means of vertical screws 14 engaged with threaded openings provided therefor in lugs 15 integrally formed with bed plates. The

upper ends of the screws are adapted to coact crating-tool, and the lower ends thereof are a smooth and bear on ledges 16 provided on the cross members 7 8 and 9. As shown in Fig" ure 1, four vertical screws 14 are provided for each bed plate, there being two lugs 15 at each end of each bed plate. Thelugs 15 of the bed plates located "adjacent the center cross member Shave their outer ends machined or ground to provideguiding and clamping surfaces engageable wlth similarly, 100

ings provided in" the vertical webs 7 and 9 of the end cross members 7 and 9 and bear against the ends of the lugs 15 located adjacent said screws 18. This secures the beds in any vertical adjustment but by loosening these screws 18 and appropriately adjusting the screws 1.4 thebeds may be adjusted vertically to suit conditions. The bed plate 11' supports the usual printing surface not shown.

20; The bed plate 12 supports the print receiving surface which is usually in the form of a sheet or paper, or the like. To facilitate registration of the print receivingsurface or sheet of paper and the accurate location thereof in the printing plane, a thin sheet of metal 135' rests flatly on the bed plate 12 and is clamped in position by means of a clamping bar 140 and clamping screws. 141 coacting with a downwardly offset or inclined extension 142 of the printing bed 12. The surface ofthe metal sheet 135 isadapted to receive an impression of the crosses Or other marks ordinarily employed in effecting registration of the print receiving surface or sheet and to carry out this function the surface of the plate ormetal sheet 185 may be coated with white enamel such as white Duco. With a plate of this character the cross marks on the zinc plate may be inked and the printing cylinder run over the inked cross marks to take an-impression thereof on the blanket. Then, as the cylinder travels over the metal sheet 135, it transfers or impresses the crosses'or registration marks onthe metal sheet. The print receiving sheet has openings therethrough which. are brought over the crosses or registration marks to properly register the print receiving surface. It is, of course, conventionalto use these crosses in this way but it is entirely-novel to utilize the transfer cylinder to take an impression of the crosses of the zinc plate and apply them to the surface whichunderlies the proof sheet or print receiving surface. In addition to this advantage the plate or metal-sheet 135 may be raised or lowered vertically to locate it in the printing plane by shimming it up with filler sheets of paper or the like. This is advantageous as it saves the time that would otherwise have to be expended in re: setting the bed plate 12. v

The print receiving surface which, as indi cated, is'usually in the form of, a sheetof paper, is clamped against the undersurface of a combined gripping and index :plate 145, the

top surface of which is located just below the printing plane. As shown to advantage in Figure 4, the plate 145 is supported on the central cross member 8 of the frame by means of spacing and supportingmembers 146 which have their lowerends engaging the cross member Sand theiru'pperendsenlarged and engaging the underside of the plate. Screws 147, which have their heads countersunk in the plate 145, passthrough the plate and the members 146 and are threaded into the cross member 8 whereby to rigidly. secure the plate 145-in position. For clamping the print receiving sheet up against the'underside of the plate 145, gripping fingers, designated generally atl48, are provided (see Figures2 and 3), the gripping fingers being of resilient metal and each having one end bearing against a spacing block 149 and fastened through the block 149 to theplate 145 by. means of screws or other suitable fastening devices 150. The inherent: resiliency ofthe, fingers 148 bias' them'to released position wherein their freegripping ends 148, which are offset toward the plate145, are spaced from plate 145 to admit of the freepassage of the print receiving sheet to the space between'themselves and the plate 145. It is to be noted that the forward or gripping ends of the fingers 148 project forwardly of the plate 145 and in their released position are close up to or engagedwith the sheet 135 to insure easy pressing ofthe print receiving sheet into the space between the fingers 148 and the underside of the plate .145. When the sheet has its end edge positionedin be tween the fingers148 and the plate 145 the fingers are forced up against the paper and clamp the paper between themselves and the late. This is accomplished by means of a cam shaft 151 having a plurality of cams 152 fixed thereto, there being one-cam 152 engaged v with each gripping finger148. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cam shaft/extends transversely. of the machine and of the gripping fingers and itis supported for rotary move-, ment in. bearings provided thereforv in the supporting members 146. The camshaft 151 is rotated from a finger lever 154 which is fixed to the outer end of a shaft 155rotatably mounted in a bearing 156 secured to the underside of the plate 145. A beveled gear wheel 157 is fixed to theshaft 155 and meshes with a beveled gear wheel 158 fixed to the cam shaft 151. When the finger l'ever is in the position shown in Figures 2, 3' and 4, the cam shaft i'sso positioned that the gripping fingers 148 are released. By turning thefinger' lever 154 and the shaft'155 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, T

When the gripping fingers are in sheet gripping position thefingeri lever'154 is located in a horizontal position but has been rotated to 180 in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 4. Thus, in both positions of the finger lever it is located below the printing plane. For the purpose of preventing the operator of the machine from inadvertently leaving the finger lever in an intermediate position in which it might project up above the printing planeand presentan obstruction in the way. of a printing cylinder, a self-acting spring biased toggle is associated with the finger lever. As shown in Figure 4, this toggle includes an arm 160 which maybe formedas a continuation of the finger lever and which is pivotally connectedas at-160, to one end of the sliding link 161. The lower end of the link 161 slides through an opening provided therefor in a Swivel pin 162, pivotally mounted on a bracket arm 163 which'inay be conveniently formed integral with the'be'aring 156 (see Figure 2).

, A coil spring 165encircles the link 161 and has one end abutting a shoulder formed at.

the upper end of the link and has its other end abutting the swivel pin 162. The spring 165 is under compression. and in the, toggle arrangement shown biases the finger'lever 154toeither one of its horizontal positions. If the finger lever is moved from the position shown in Figure 4 in a counter-clockwise direction'for the first 90 of its movement the compression of the spring 165 is increased as such movement of the finger lever 154 slides the link 161 down through the opening of the swivel pin and thus shortens the distance between the ends of the spring. After the finger lever passes the vertical position, further swinging movement in acounter-clock wise direction is accompanied by expansion of the spring'161 which, ofcourse, tends to throw the finger lever to its other horizontal position. i v 1 To facilitate proper positionirn of the print receiving surface the plate 145 is provided with longitudinally and transversely adjustable gauges. The longitudinally adjustable gauges (see Figures 2,8, 5 and 6) are two in number and are in the form ofblocks 17 0 having beveled forward extensions 171 and provided with beveled guide pieces 172 fastened thereto by screws 17 3 and operating in longitudinal slots 174 formed in the plate 145. Graduations or scales 175 are provided on the plate 145 adjacent the slots 174 and facilitate precise adjustingof the gauges. The gauge blocks 17 0 are carried at the forward ends of rods 17 6 and the rearward ends of the rods are screw threaded as at 177 and pass loosely through spaced guides178 fixed to the underside of the plate 145. Knurled thumb nuts: 179, which are engaged with the threads of the rods 176, operate between the guides 178 and project up through slots or openings 180 formed in the plate 145. Obviously,.by turning the nuts 179 in one direction the gauge blocks 170 are advanced and by turning the thumb nuts 17 9. in an opposite direction-the gauge blocks 17 0' are retracted.

The transversely adjustable gauges include gauge plates 182 located one adjacent each end of the plate 145 and travelingacrossscales 183 provided along the forward edge of plate 145 adjacent each end thereof (see Figure 3). The gauges 182 are mounted on the'plate 145 for transverse sliding movement and are releasably secured in any adjustment.

The. guiding and mounting of the gauges 182 is preferably effected by means of aguide member 184 (see Figures 7, 8 and 9), which has an upwardly directed flange 185 along its forward edge snugly fitted in a guide channel-186 provided inthe underside of plate 145. The guide members 184 project rearwardlybeyond the plate 145 and each has an integral enlargement 187 spaced rear-ward- 1y from the plate 145 and designed to provide a fixed wedge and also to permit of the convenient connection of each gauge plate 182 to its guide 184. Thus, eachgauge plate 182 is fastened to the enlargement 187 of its guide 184 by means-of screws or rivets 188. And the forward wall of the enlargement 187 of each guide 184 is beveled at 187 to provide the fixed wedge structure. For releasably securing each gauge plate 182 in adjusted positi on a shiftable wedge 189 is provided and has its rearward end portion formed with a tapering or gradually inclined and enlarging por-.

tion 190 which coacts with the 'fiXed wedge constituted by the inclined surface 187 of the guide 184. The wedge 189 is of L-shaped form and between the wider portion thereof and the enlargement 187 an expansible coil spring 191 is provided and tends to shiftthe wedge member 189 to the left as viewed in Figure 9, thereby causing the shiftable wedge tohave binding engagement with the plate 145 and the enlargement 1870f the guide and consequently relea'sably securing the gauge plate 182 in adjusted position. By, pressing the shiftable'wedge 189 to the right, as viewed infFigure 9, the wedgesurfaces 187 and 190 are disengaged and the gauge is freed or re leasedfor adjustment. The thumb and forefinger may be conveniently used to release the Wedge 189 and shift the gauge.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a printing press of the character described, a bed, a plate incorporated in the bed below the printing plane, gripping fingers cooperable with the undersurface of the plate for gripping a sheet, and means below the plate for forcing the gripping fingers into gripping relation with the plate and comprising a shaft, cams on the shaft engageable with the gripping fingers, and means for turning the shaft and holding the same in eitherextreme position.

.2. In a printing press of the character described, a bed, a plate'incorporated in the bed below the printing plane, grippers cooperable with the plate for gripping a sheet, and means for forcing the grippers into gripping relation with the plate, a hand lever for operating said means and located below the printing plane in either of its extreme positions, and a spring toggle for biasing the hand lever to one or the other of its extreme positions.

. 3. In a printing press of the character described, a bed, a plate incorporated in the bed below the printing plane, grippers cooperable 7 with the underside of the plate for gripping the sheet, and means controlling the engagement of the grippers with the plate.

4. In a printing pressof the character described, a bed plate having a downwardly inclined extension at one end, a gripping plate supported just below the printing plane and adjacent to but slightly spaced from said extension, a plurality of gripping'fingers v of resilient gripping fingers connected to the plate and biased by their. inherent resiliency to released position, and means for flexing the fingers into gripping relation with the plate.

i 6. In a printing press, a combined'gripping and index plate supported in position just below the printing plane, gripping means cooperable with the underside of the plate for securing a sheet in position for printing, and sheet registering device cooperable with said sheet and carried by said plate.

7. In a printing press, a combined grip ping and indexplate supported in position just below the printing plane, gripping means cooperable with the underside of the plate for securing a sheet in position for printing, and sheet registering device cooperable with said sheet and carried by said plate and including longitudinally adjustable gauges carried by the plate and movable along the underside thereof, and screw and nut means operable from above the plate and located below the printing plane for moving said gauges.

8. In a printing-press, a combined gripping and index plate supported in position just below the printing plane, gripping means cooperable with the underside of the plate for securing a sheet in position for printing, and sheet registering device cooperable with said sheet and carried by said plate and including thin transversely adjustable gauges located below the printing-plane and slidable across the top of said plate. j

9. In a printing press, a combined gripping and index plate supported inposition just below the printing plane, gripping means cooperable with the underside of the plate for securing'a sheet in position for printing,

and sheet registering device cooperable with said sheet and carried by said plate and in-' cluding thin transversely adjustable gauges located below the printing plane and slid' able across the top of said plate, means 00- operable with the plate and with said gauges I for constraining them to proper movement and manually releasable means between said gauges and said plate for securing said gauges in adjusted position. j

10. In a printing press, a combined gripping and index plate supported in position just below the printing plane, gripping means cooperable with the underside of the plate for securing a" sheet in position for printing, and sheet registering device cooperable with said sheet and carried by said plate and including longitudinally and transversely adjustable gauges carried by said plate and located below the printing plane. V 7

11. In a printing press, a combined grip ping and index plate, having a guide groove in its underside along one edge, a thin gauge plate slidable across the top of said gripping and index plate, a guide member, connected to said gauge plate and slidable 'in-said groove, and a manually releasable wedge interposed between said gauge and guide and cooperable with the gripping and index plate to hold said gauge in adjusted position.

12. In a printing press, a plate to which a sheet is adapted to be held, said plate being disposed beloivthe printing plane, longitudinally adjustable gages slidably interconnected with the plate and disposed below the printing plane in all adjustments, and means for advancing and retracting said gages.

18. In a printing press, a plate supported in the position just below the printing plane and to the underside of which a sheet is adapted to be held, longitudinally adjustable gages carried by the plate and movable along the underside thereof, and means operable from above the plate and located below the printing plane for adjusting said gages.

In witness whereof, We hereto ailix our signatures.

LOUIS JUNG. HUGO F. SCHMIDT. 

